Learning from aviation and surgery to improve outbreak response
How implementing practices from high-stakes organizations could improve public health
What do flying planes and controlling outbreaks have in common? Nothing yet—but that might need to change.
I have a new essay out today in Foreign Affairs that looks to '“high reliability” organizations like commercial aviation and aircraft carriers for instruction on how to build processes that efficient, effective, and continuously improving.
I argue that adopting high reliability principles can improve our ability to contain outbreaks, ease the burden of emergency response on public health professionals, and win back trust.
It’s an idea I’ve been spending a lot of time on lately, and I hope it resonates.
You can read it for free (no paywall) over at Foreign Affairs.
This article makes so much sense with clear comparisons between aviation or surgery and pandemic (or any health issue) response. I worry for the next presidential election and how a Trump presidency will not support funding for CDC or any attention on pandemic preparedness or response plans, and rather will resist rational/scientific approaches and will promote nonsensical ones (bleach injections, etc). The latest SCOTUS ruling in Chevron case makes the CDC an organization that the president or congress can make decisions for - rejecting/overriding the decisions of the experts. I encourage everyone reading this to consider this and then vote!
Brilliant article, Dr. Rivers. Please keep speaking up so cogently on our need for preparedness and how to go about it. We need your advocacy!